January 16 / 14.50 Fairyhouse

14.50

Soft

Jump Into January Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4876.03
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 9 runners
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Jump Into January Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 250-3 BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a bumper on debut before a cracking run when a 66-1 fifth of 19 in the Champion Bumper; however, has been turned over at short odds twice since, including last month's return in a 2m7f maiden hurdle at this venue; needs to jump slicker this time and he's dropping in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

14

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Fishery Lane

10st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Maiden hurdle win over 2m4f; 0-6 chasing this term, decent handicap debut run at Leopardstown (2m6f), most recently halfway faller in 3m5f Ulster National; others possibly better handicapped and trip remains an unknown.

16/1

3

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

Fishery Lane

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Maiden hurdle over 2m4f; 0-5 chasing this term, modest placings behind stablemates in two beginners' events; fair effort when fourth at Leopardstown in his first handicap chase; open to improvement, but stablemate Uncle Pat appears more attractively handicapped

9/1

4th

10

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Fishery Lane

10st 4lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

After winning his maiden hurdle over 2m4f (Fairyhouse) he was pulled up twice; 0-4 chasing this term, modest placings behind stablemates the last twice; doesn't exactly seem thrown in on handicap chase debut (5lb higher than hurdles).

12/1

OUR TIP

10/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 33

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won twice on the level in France before 55,000euros sale; promising start for this yard when third of 10 in a maiden hurdle at Cork in November and similar level of form when third of 16 at Navan last month; nothing special about the form of those races and unproven at this trip so might be vulnerable conceding weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

17th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 40y

13:20 Navan

Grimaud

11st 2lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

One of four for trainer; two-time Flat winner and maiden hurdle winner; creditable efforts in his last three handicaps, a 2l runner-up at Navan (2m5f, heavy) before staying on for a modest fourth in a Listed contest at Navan when 3lb wrong (3m1f, soft to heavy); third at Limerick last time when he could offer no more close home (3m, soft to heavy); can go well again but Kennedy chooses another.

12/1

12

27th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

15:20 Listowel

Grimaud

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Won a Gowran maiden (2m, soft) in March; has failed to fire in four starts since, twice coming up short in handicaps; best efforts have come on soft ground; probably needs rain.

10/1

10th

21

2nd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 108y

15:12 Galway

Grimaud

10st 11lb

T: Gordon Elliott

First reserve; French Flat winner; won a Gowran maiden hurdle in March (2m, soft); beaten 22l on handicap debut at Aintree in April and this trip seemed to stretch him in a rated novice at Clonmel; others preferred.

20/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: P42500

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Three-time point winner; promise in maiden hurdles but struggled in handicaps off a mark of 105 more recently; will need a clear career best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

John The Spark

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Karen Jewell

Ex-Irish 8yo; won three of nine points but 0-12 under rules and tailed off over hurdles (2m3f maiden) and fences (2m5f handicap) here in both runs for current yard; untried at this trip and has lots to prove.

12/1

4th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

John The Spark

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Karen Jewell

Ex-Irish 8yo; won three of nine points but 0-12 under rules and tailed off over hurdles (2m3f maiden) and fences (2m5f handicap) here in both runs for current yard; untried at this trip and has lots to prove.

12/1

4

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

14:15 Fontwell

John The Spark

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Karen Jewell

Ex-Irish 8yo; won three of his nine points but he's 0-11 under rules and was tailed off in maiden hurdle here (2m3f, good) on recent stable debut; now returns to a handicap but he's failed to complete in two of his four starts over regulation fences and has plenty to prove back in this sphere.

12/1

Form: 5

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third to Shuffle The Deck in a point and behind that rival again when fifth of 18 in a maiden hurdle at Naas last month; runner-up from that contest has finished third in a Grade 1 since and he's entitled to improve from that rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

19

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Quantum Quest

10st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Henry De Bromhead

Readily made all in Kilbeggan maiden when upped to 3m1f in August and followed up on handicap debut at Roscommon (3m, good to yielding) in September; even better form in defeat later in the autumn, including fifth of 17 in a notably strong 3m Cheltenham handicap on good; returns from a four-month break as a 6yo who could easily have more to offer.

16/1

5th

13

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 208y

Class 2

14:55 Cheltenham

Quantum Quest

10st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Readily made all in Kilbeggan maiden (good to yielding) when upped to 3m1f in August and followed up on last month's handicap debut at Roscommon (3m, good to yielding; first-time cheekpieces); upped significantly in grade here but no surprise if he features.

12/1

Form: 6

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner; shaped okay when sixth of 10 in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas; should improve if he handles the slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

15th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 7f 136y

15:40 Thurles

Slieve Annilog

11st 12lb

J: Oakley Brown

T: Riceal Dunne

Point winner in December; respectable efforts in three maiden hurdles over longer distances; this represents a significant drop in class; leading contender.

7/2

11

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 30y

15:55 Punchestown

Slieve Annilog

11st 12lb

J: Oakley Brown

T: Riceal Dunne

Point winner; respectable efforts in two starts under rules, finishing 16l behind Fishery Lane at Fairyhouse latest; each-way squeak.

12/1

Form: 3U-9

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a point before £370,000 sale in 2023; turned over as favourite in two bumper starts last year and questions to answer now having been beaten 27l at Naas on return in November; needs improvement for the step up in trip and first-time tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 180y

17:05 Tramore

Jersey Des Brosses

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Expensive purchase has so far failed to live up to his price tag in bumpers and over hurdles; don't rule out improvement now sent chasing though.

15/2

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 180y

17:05 Tramore

Jersey Des Brosses

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Expensive purchase has so far failed to live up to his price tag in bumpers and over hurdles; don't rule out improvement now sent chasing though.

15/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hasn't threatened in four points and has a tough task on rules bow.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

16th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 90y

19:05 Kilbeggan

Be Positive

11st 12lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Seamus Neville

Is 0-4 over hurdles and rated 95; needs to jump a lot better than when a remote fourth on chasing debut at Down Royal early this month.

25/1

12th

2

16th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 90y

19:05 Kilbeggan

Be Positive

11st 12lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Seamus Neville

Is 0-4 over hurdles and rated 95; needs to jump a lot better than when a remote fourth on chasing debut at Down Royal early this month.

25/1

4th

2

5th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Be Positive

11st 12lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Seamus Neville

in rear, not fluent 2nd

12/1

Form: F4

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fell early on rules debut but left that behind when fourth of 19 in a maiden hurdle at Navan won by Magic Boum, travelling well into the contest before getting tapped for toe; runner-up has run well in defeat twice since, a return to further should suit and he's one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

16:30 Clonmel

Along The Way

11st 0lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Eddie & Patrick Harty

Maiden over hurdles and fences is out of his depth in this company; handicaps will suit better in time.

100/1

6th

1

3rd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Along The Way

11st 12lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Eddie & Patrick Harty

A 107-rated hurdler whose chasing debut at Gowran four months ago suggests he is unlikely to feature.

50/1

Form: P

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Just 10-1 for his debut at Limerick last month but was beaten a long way out before pulling up and probably best watched for now; wears first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

27th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

17:25 Bellewstown

Ellis Mor

11st 10lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Pulled up in both maiden hurdle runs for Jennifer Lynch but definite step forward on second outing for Willie Mullins when narrowly denied by a stablemate (pair clear) in 2m6f Tramore maiden in May (good-to-yielding); bought for just 1,800gns at Tattersalls July Sale and now debuts for Dermot McLoughlin.

11/2

1

31st May 2025

Good

2m 5f 175y

19:45 Tramore

Ellis Mor

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Pulled up in two maiden hurdle starts; made stable debut last time at Punchestown when well back in the field (2m3f, yielding); was returning from a break that day but he needs improvement if he is to win here; trainer also runs two others.

9/2

1

31st May 2025

Good

2m 5f 175y

19:45 Tramore

Ellis Mor

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Pulled up in two maiden hurdle starts; made stable debut last time at Punchestown when well back in the field (2m3f, yielding); was returning from a break that day but he needs improvement if he is to win here; trainer also runs two others.

9/2

Non-runners

Battleoftheboyne

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €11.90
Straight Forecast €12.48
Trifecta €148.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Quantum Quest

TOPSPEED:

Slieve Annilog

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Quantum Quest

POSTDATA:

Quantum Quest

The Irish Sun:

Quantum Quest